Demirovic inspires Stuttgart to much-needed win over St. Pauli

VfB made three changes on the night, with Lorenz Assignon, Chema Andres, and Tiago Tomas drafted in, while Ermedin Demirovic wore the armband for the first time. 

The Bosnian thought he had made an instant impact, heading home Angelo Stiller’s free-kick after just four minutes, only for celebrations to be cut short by the referee’s whistle.

Bilal El Khannouss looked sharp in the early exchanges, constantly demanding the ball and probing at Pauli’s lines. The visitors, led by Bad Cannstatt-born Alexander Blessin, were slow to impose themselves but carried the threat of pace on the counter with Andreas Hountondji.

The game’s first real turning point arrived after 20 minutes, when Tomas’s mazy run forced Eric Smith into a clumsy challenge inside the box. 

Stiller stepped up, but his tame effort was easily saved by Nikola Vasilj, the Pauli keeper extending his remarkable Bundesliga penalty record to six saves from seven faced. Minutes later, Stiller spurned another golden chance, hesitating one-on-one before Vasilj smothered again.

Relief finally came for Stuttgart in the 43rd minute. Demirovic twisted inside the penalty area, creating just enough space to delicately lift the ball over Vasilj and into the roof of the net. It was a captain’s finish – his second goal in as many games – and the perfect response to the recent scrutiny on Sebastian Hoeneß’s side.

The second half began with Stuttgart at their fluid best. Within four minutes, El Khannouss crowned his performance with his first Bundesliga goal. A flowing move down the left saw Jamie Leweling cross for Demirovic, who cushioned a clever lay-off into the Moroccan’s path. The midfielder placed his shot with care into the bottom-right corner, sparking celebrations in front of the Untertürkheimer Kurve.